Anna Pavlovna Barykova was a Russian poet and translator. She actively supported revolutionary movements and wrote on political and civil topics.
Background
Anna Pavlovna Barykova (nee Kamenskaya) was born on December 28, 1839, Saint Petersburg City, Russian Federation. Her father - Pavel Pavlovich Kamensky - had some literary fame. Mother - Maria Fedorovna, was also fond of writing. Anna was the granddaughter of the artist F.P. Tolstoy.
Education
Anna Pavlovna studied at home under the guidance of her father, then at the Catherine Institute in Saint Petersburg, which she graduated at 17. She wasn't satisfied with the education she received and filled the knowledge gaps with books. She started writing poetry at the institute. One of the poems was a success among teachers and mentors. She also wrote a story from the public life "Bird House", which was approved by D.V. Grigorovich, who was a friend of her father.
Career
Barykova's poems were first published in 1872. Her poetry translations often appeared on the pages of popular magazines. She translated V. Hugo, P.J. Beranger, I. V. Goethe, G. Heine, P. B. Shelley, G. Longfellow, and other poets (Anna Pavlovna knew French, German, and English).
Active work in progressive magazines reinforced Barykova's radical views. Anna Pavlovna corresponded with P.F. Yakubovich, her works were included in the collection "Otklik" (1881), published under his editorship. The first and only lifetime collection of poems by Barykova, published in 1878, provoked unfriendlily and even mocking responses from critics who accused the poetess of being addicted to portraying a "dirty" life.
The rout of the Narodnaya Volya and the onset of reaction forced her to move away from the revolutionary movement. Having experienced the influence of the moral teachings of Leo Tolstoy, Anna Pavlovna became an active employee of his publishing house "Posrednik". The name Anna Pavlovna can be found in the letters of Lev Nikolaevich of the late 80th. He appreciated her talent and spoke approvingly of her works and translations.
Politics
Since the beginning of the 80's Anna Pavlovna lived in Rostov-on-Don, she actively helped the revolutionary struggle of the Narodnaya Volya - their illegal meetings were held in her flat. During the arrest of G.A. Lopatin in 1884, the name of Anna Pavlovna was found in his notes. The poetess was arrested and spent a month in prison, she was released only due to illness. The gendarmes did not have any materials against Anna Pavlovna and did not even suspect that she was the author of a daring pamphlet directed against the Caesarism, printed in 1883.
Personality
Anna Pavlovna Barykova was one of the first people who popularized vegetarianism: it was her popular expression: "I don’t eat anyone".